Budding optimism about online learning; a paradigm shift!

AnalytixLabs has been delivering both classroom and online training programs since 2011 and we find it very interesting that how general attitude towards the online training has evolved in past couple of years. Early in 2012, majority of candidates used to be apprehensive about the effectiveness of the online mode and only ~30% opting for it. In contract to this, a large number of students now inquire about online programs and more than 80% of our students voluntarily move to online platform after initial 2-3 sessions.

Needless to say, technology has been the biggest enabler for this shifting paradigm. With some of the fully interactive online platforms, allowing seamless real-time interaction among all the class participants and the faculty, the advantages of online mode have become really compelling. And it is not just the effectiveness but also the sheer simplicity of these platforms, which is making the quality education accessible to everyone, irrespective of their location. Today, one just needs a basic broadband connection on a laptop/ PC without any other fancy hardware (mic-headset is recommended for enhanced experience). Even the students from same city end-up adopting the online mode to avoid commuting hassles, which is quite understandable in today’s busy and chaotic world.

Our observation also resonates with the latest global trends in the higher education. According to Sloan Consortium, a nonprofit organization that analyzes online learning trends, the number of people taking advantage of online education is increasing at 11 times faster rate than enrollments at traditional colleges and universities. Another finding, based on the national survey on the respondents from 2,800 colleges and universities, reveals that 75% of chief academic officers think the learning outcomes in online education are the same or better than classroom programs. It is no wonder that they are decidedly optimistic about online education reaching more students in the foreseeable future; 90% of the respondents believe that by 2018 the majority of college students will take at least one course online.

We believe that with better collaboration and far higher reach, online learning is leading a revolution in this competitive age. This comes especially from the fact where need for continual learning/unlearning and skill enhancement has become imperative like never before.